Noticing a decline in your abilities and a change in who you are as a person can be scary. Reach out to any of 6 hotlines in Netherlands that support with dementia and Alzheimer's if you’re experiencing the following symptoms:

Being easily irritated regardless of knowing it’s nothing you would normally get upset about
Difficulties concentrating on reading or writing
Sudden changes in mood, agitation
Struggling with keeping up with the direction of a conversation
Difficulties remembering what you knew and memorizing new things
You might experience hallucinations and delusions
Getting confused over tasks that you used to perform routinely
Becoming emotionally numb at times

Dementia and Alzheimer’s could make you feel a range of emotions, from fear to disbelief or even peaceful acceptance. It is natural to feel all of that and to be apprehensive about what the future brings at times. It can be confusing to go through it alone.

You might feel the need to maintain your self-sufficiency as long as possible. Reaching out to volunteers from a helpline that supports with dementia and Alzheimer’s can help you cope with the diagnosis in a healthy and productive way.